Swalwell resident fined for fly tip offence

A Swalwell resident has been heavily fined after he allowed his van to be used by someone to fly tip rubbish.

A member of the public witnessed the occupants of a Ford Transit emptying pieces of broken furniture, chipboard and other waste from the van onto a footpath under the Redheugh Bridge in Gateshead.

The member of the public took photographs of the offence and promptly alerted the council's Enforcement Team who immediately launched an investigation.

The owner of the van was quickly identified as Vincent Baldwin, 35, of the Angel Guest House in Swalwell. Mr Baldwin was invited to an interview at Gateshead Civic Centre but did not attend, leaving the council with no alternative but to prosecute.

"We will never tolerate fly tipping in Gateshead" - Anneliese Hutchinson, service director for Development, Transport and Public Protection

At South Tyneside Magistrates' Court this week (August 19, 2019), Vincent Baldwin pleaded guilty of allowing his vehicle to be used for an unauthorised depositing of waste.

Magistrates fined him £270.00 with £30.00 victim surcharge. He was also ordered to pay £456.30 costs, a total of £756.30.

Anneliese Hutchinson, service director for Development, Transport and Public Protection, says:

"Fly tipping is a serious environmental crime and it is reassuring that there are residents of Gateshead who are sufficiently public-spirited to report such offenders. I'd like to sincerely thank the person who did so - you've done a great service to the local community.

"We will never tolerate fly tipping in Gateshead, we will always investigate and we will prosecute whenever we can, as Mr Baldwin can now testify."

A Swalwell resident has been heavily fined after he allowed his van to be used by someone to fly tip rubbish.

A member of the public witnessed the occupants of a Ford Transit emptying pieces of broken furniture, chipboard and other waste from the van onto a footpath under the Redheugh Bridge in Gateshead.

The member of the public took photographs of the offence and promptly alerted the council's Enforcement Team who immediately launched an investigation.

The owner of the van was quickly identified as Vincent Baldwin, 35, of the Angel Guest House in Swalwell. Mr Baldwin was invited to an interview at Gateshead Civic Centre but did not attend, leaving the council with no alternative but to prosecute.

"We will never tolerate fly tipping in Gateshead" - Anneliese Hutchinson, service director for Development, Transport and Public Protection

At South Tyneside Magistrates' Court this week (August 19, 2019), Vincent Baldwin pleaded guilty of allowing his vehicle to be used for an unauthorised depositing of waste.

Magistrates fined him £270.00 with £30.00 victim surcharge. He was also ordered to pay £456.30 costs, a total of £756.30.

Anneliese Hutchinson, service director for Development, Transport and Public Protection, says:

"Fly tipping is a serious environmental crime and it is reassuring that there are residents of Gateshead who are sufficiently public-spirited to report such offenders. I'd like to sincerely thank the person who did so - you've done a great service to the local community.

"We will never tolerate fly tipping in Gateshead, we will always investigate and we will prosecute whenever we can, as Mr Baldwin can now testify."